10 Days Best of Uganda Primate Safari
This 10 days’ program takes you to some of Uganda’s finest National parks. It also gives you a chance to see the big5s, primates and several bird species. Trek rhinos on foot, see the Murchison falls, go on unlimited games and get close to our closest relatives(Chimpanzees and gorillas)
OVERVIEW
Day 1 Arrival
Day 2 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3 Game drive and boat trip
Day 4 Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 5 Chimpanzee Trekking and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 Game drive and boat safari
Day 7 Game drive in Ishasha, travel to Bwindi
Day 8 Gorilla Trekking
Day 9 Travel to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 10 Game drive and transfer to Entebbe Airport
DETAILED PROGRAM
Day 1 Arrival
On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari guide from Mandela Safari Holidays. He will transfer you to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe.
Meal plan – Dinner
Accommodation
Budget –Viavia Guesthouse
Midrange- Papyrus Guest House
Luxury- Hotel No5/Latitude Hotel
Day 2 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
This morning, you will be met by your safari guide He will give you a short briefing about the whole tour and then travel to Murchison Falls National Park. On the way, you are to do rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda. You track rhinos on foot under the guidance of an expert guide.
Then continue to Murchison falls National Park with a lunch stop and arrival will be in the afternoon. Visit the Top of the Murchison Falls and then check in your lodge for the night.
Travel time – Approx 7 Hrs
Meal Plan –Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Mama Wasindi Lodge
Midrange – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Camp
Luxury-Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 3 Game drive and boat trip
After having breakfast, you are to have a morning game drive in search for giraffes, water bucks, elephants, warthogs, hyenas, leopards, oribis and so on. Enjoy a hot lunch as you get ready for the boat trip to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. Expect to see hundreds of hippos bathing, crocodiles, warthogs, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, hyenas and many more. This park is also home to over 350 bird species. You are advised to wear a hat and also insect repellent to avoid bites of insects.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Mama Washindi Lodge
Midrange – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Fort Murchison Camp
Luxury- Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 4 Travel to Kibale Forest
Wake up at leisure, have breakfast and then travel to Kibale Forest, The primate capital of the world. The forest is home to 13 primate species including the chimpanzee, blue monkeys, nocturnal portal, bush babies, and so on. It is also home to several species of butterflies.
In the evening, you have an option to a walk in the Bigodi wetlands and also do a community tour.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget – Kibale Forest Camp/Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Midrange – Turaco Treetops/IsungaLodge
Luxury- Primate Lodge/Chimpundu Lodge
Travel time – Approx 6 hrs
Day 5 Chimpanzee Tracking and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and then travel to Kyanyanchu Park head quarters in Kibale Forest. You will be briefed about the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee tracking. You then enter the tropical rainforest as you search for man’s closest relatives, the chimpanzee. Having encountered them, enjoy a full hour observing their behaviour. The chimpanzees are man’s closest relative and this can be witnessed by the way they use tools, show emotions etc.
Have a lunch break and then travel to Queen Elizabeth National park via the Kasenda crater lakes region. Arrive at your lodge and relax for the evening.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget – Pumba Safari Cottages/Tembo Safari Lodge
Midrange – Buffalo Safari Lodge/The Bush Lodge
Luxury-Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge
Day 6 Morning Game drive and afternoon boat trip
We wake up for early breakfast and embark on a morning game drive around Kasenyi sector to search for the early risers. Expect to see elephants, buffalos, kobs, lions, and also leopards etc
After lunch, you are to enjoy a boat safari on the Kazinga channel. This water stream has the largest concetration of hippos in the world. Expect to see buffalos, crocodiles, lizzards, kobs, waterbucks, many waterbirds and so on.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget- Tembo Safari Lodge/Pumba Safari Cottages
Midrange – Buffalo Safari Lodge/ The Bush Lodge
Luxury-Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge
Day 7 Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
We eat breakfast and then travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. On the way, you are to have an enroute game drive in Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for the rare tree climbing lions. They tend to relax on fig trees as they escape the mid day sun. Arrival at Bwindi will be in the late afternoon.
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget –Broadbill Forest Camp/Ruhija Rest Camp
Midrange – Bakiga Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp
Luxury – Gorilla Leisure Lodge/ Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 8 Gorilla Tracking
Wake up early, move to the park headquarters for paperwork and then get briefed about gorilla trekking before entering the Impenetrable forest. Be ready to walk for one to six hours depending on where you will find the gorillas. Having encountered them, you will be given a full hour to associate with them. The one hour you spend with the gorillas is unforgettable. The mountain Gorilla is the most powerful and also muscular primate on earth.
Enjoy a free afternoon or decide to take part in any of the optional activities. These include a Batwa comunity visit, village walk, or take a guided forest walk.
Meal plan – breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget – Broadbill Forest Camp/Ruhija Rest Camp
Midrange – Bakiga Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp
Luxury – Gorilla Leisure Lodge/ Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 9 Travel to Lake Mburo National park
Travel to Lake Mburo National park. This park is famous for large herds of zebras and impalas. Arrive in the late afternoon and also check in your lodge. You have an option to do a safari walk, night game drive, bike safari or horse back safari.
Meal plan – breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
Budget – Hyena Hill Lodge/Eagles Nest Camp
Midrange – Rwakobo Rock/Arcadia Cottages Mburo
Luxury – Mihingo Lodge/ Kigambira Safari Lodge
Day 10 Departure
Start the day with a morning game drive in search for buffalos, zebras, elands, topis, impalas and so on. Have lunch and then travel to Entebbe Airport to catch your flight. Arrival will be in the late afternoon hence end of safari.
Meal plan – breakfast and lunch
Accommodation – Not included.
HIGHLIGHTS
game drives and game walks
bird watching hiking to the top of the Falls
Boat trips
Chimpanzee trekking
Gorilla trekking
Included in the cost are.
airport Transfers
all meals as the itinerary states
all accommodation
Rhino tracking fees
Hiking to the Top of the Murchison Falls
Gorilla permits valued at USD 800 per person.
Chimpanzee permits valued at USD 250 per person
All park entrance fees.
Game ranger fee
All game drives.
Boat trips
4WD Safari vehicle (Landcruiser) suitable for game viewing
enough Bottled drinking water on board
Not included in the cost are
porter for your forest treks
flights
visa fees
drinks besides water provided in safari vehicle
anything marked optional in the itinerary.
Packing list
a pair of waterproof trousers and jacket
a hat
insect repellent
Sunshine repellent
A pair of sunglasses
Gaitors
Personal camera
A pair of binoculars
good hiking shoes
